Valved propeller for small boats and the like.



T. H. TRACY, DECD. M. A. TRA( 2 Y. ADMINISTRATR'IX. VALVED PROPELLER FORSMALL BOATS ANDTHEYUKE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 13.1915. I 1 ,152,528.i Patented Nov; 30, 1915.

( LELTBAQY, Qwzmsfram'mx lrwemiorf- COLUMBIA PLANODRAPH 60.. WASHINGTON,D. c.

UFFfClE,

THOMAS H. TRACY, DECEASED, LATE OF MOARK, ARKANSAS, BY MATTIE A. TRACY,

ADMINISTRA'IRIX, or MOAR-K, ARKANSAS, Assienort or NIMNICI-I, 0F MOARK,ARKANSAS.

ONE-HALF TO JOSEPH VALVED PROPELLER FOR SMALL BOATS AND THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 34), 1915.

Application filed July 13, i915. Serial no. eeflevs.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MA'r'rrn A. TRAcY, a citizen of the United States,and residing at Moark, in the county of Clay and State of Arkansas,administratrix of the estate of THOMAS H. TRACY, deceased, late acitizen of the United States, and residing at Moark, in the county ofClay and State of Arkansas, claim a patent upon the new and usefulImprovements in Valved Propellers for Small Boats and the like inventedby the said THOMAS H. TRACY, and of which the following is aspecification.

The present invention relates to a valved propeller for small boats andthe like, and has for its object to provide a valved cellular frameWhich embodies novel features of construction whereby it opens up so asto offer but a slight resistance to the water when moved through thesame in one direction, but closes so as to offer a solid surface to thewater when moved in the opposite direction. 1

Further objects of the invention are to provide a device of thischaracter which is comparatively simple and inexpensive in itsconstruction, which can be made in different sizes and used tofacilitate swimming as well as for the propulsion of boats and the like,and which is automatic inits action and will operate in an eflicientmanner to propel a boat or like member upon which it may be mounted whenreciprocated back and forth through the water.

WVith these and other objects in View, the invention consists in certainnovel combinations and arrangements of the parts as will more fullyappear as the description proceeds, the novel features thereof beingpointed out in the appended claims.

For a full understanding of the invention, reference is to be had to thefollowing description and accompanying drawing, in which Figure l is aperspective view of a valved propeller constructed in accordance withthe invention' Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through the same, thevalve shutters being shown in a closed position by full lines and in anopen position by dotted lines. Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional View onthe line 3-3 of Fig. 2, the valve shutters being shown in a closedposition by full lines and the same reference characters.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates an elongatedrectangular frame formed of thin strips of material which are arrangedin planes at right angles to the face of the frame so that the stripswill move in an edgewis'e direction as the frame is reciprocated backandforth in a direction at right angles to the face thereof. EX tendinglongitudinally of the frame and connecting opposite ends thereof are twosets of longitudinalpartitions Q and 3 which are arranged alternatelyand have a spaced and parallel relation to each other and to the sidesof the frame. These longitudinal partitions 2 and 3 are intersected bytransverse partitioned which are arranged parallel to the ends of theframe and cooperate with the longitudinal partitions to divide the frameinto a series of open cells 5. Both the transverse partitions 4; and thelongitudinal partitions 2 and?) are equidistant from each other so thatthe cells 5 are all of a uniform size. The transverse and longitudinalpartitions are formed of thin material which, like the sides of the mainframe 1, is arranged in an edgewise manner so as to offer a minimumresistance to the reciprocation of the frame back and forth through thewater. The width of the interna'l partitions is preferably slightly lessthan the width of the sides of the main frame, since greater strength isnecessary in the latter.

Extending longitudinally across the front of the cellular frame is aseries of swinging shutters 6 which are arranged to close the cells 5,when swung inwardly toward the main frame and to leave the passagethrough the cells unobstructed when swung outwardly away from the mainframe. One of the shutters 6 is provided for each longitudina'l row ofthe cells 5, and the shutters are hinged at 7 to the sides of the mainframe 1 and to the longitudinal partitions 3. \Vhen the shutters 6 swingoutwardly the cells 5 are opened so that the water has a substantiallyunobstructed passage through the same, while when the shutters swinginwardly toward the main frame the edges thereof meet over thelongitudinal partitions 2 so that the cells 5 are closed and a flatsurface is presented to the water.

In addition to the provision of the shutters 6, wings 8 are hinged at 9to the sides of the main frame 1 so as to swing back and forth insubstantially the same manner as the shutters and project outwardly fromthe sides of the main frame when the shutters are closed. The ends ofthe side wings 8 are formed with extensions 8 which project beyond theends of the main frame 1 and have the inner edges thereof cut off at anangle or beveled, as indicated at 10. These beveled edges 10 of theextensions 8 at each end of the main frame 1 are connected by a flexiblesheet 11 of fabric or other suitable material, said flexible sheet beingalso secured to the end pieces of the main frame. When the side wings 8are swung outwardly into operative position the flexible sheets 11 aredrawn taut so as to resist the movement of the frame through the water,while when the wings 8 are swung into inoperative position, the flexiblesheets 11 collapse so as to ofier little or no resistance to themovements of the frame through the water.

Suitable stops 12 may be provided to limit the swinging movement of thewings 8 and hold them in operative position during the forward movementof the frame, and some form of stop means is also preferably utilized inconnection with the shutters 6 so that there will be no danger of oneshutter swinging over on top of the other shutter upon the forward ordriving movement of the frame. For this purpose one end of each of theshutters 6 is shown as provided with a segmental plate 13 which isarranged to slide against the adjacent end piece of the main frame 1.These segmental plates 13 may be formed of any suitable material, suchas light sheet metal, one side of each of the segmental plates beingbent laterally and returned at lt to provide a clip for engagement withthe end of the shutter. The curved edge of eaclrof the segmental platesis shown as formed with a stop 15 adapted to engage a stop pin 16 on themain frame to limit the swinging movement of the shutter 6. These stoppins 16 may be positioned in the proper manner to limit the opening ofthe shutters 6 and secure the most effective operation of the device. Inthe preferred construction the stops are arranged so that the shutters 6open almost, but not quite, to their full extent. A quick and positiveclosing of the shutters is thus assured at the beginning of the returnor driving stroke of the frame, and the stop members render itimpossible for one of the shutters to accidentally swing over on top ofthe adjacent shutter.

The back of the main frame 1 is shown as provided with a yoke 17 bymeans of which it may be attached to the foot of the swimmer, or to anyreciprocating member upon a boat or like member to be propelled throughthe water. The exact manner of mounting the frame is immaterial, and theyoke 17 is only shown as one possible means of accomplishing thisresult. Upon the rearward movement of the frame through the water theshutters 6 will swing out- .wardly away from the frame 1 so as to openthe cells 5 and permit a practically unob structed passage of the waterthrough the same, and the wings 8 will at the same time swing intoinoperative position so as to olfer practically no resistance and permitthe flexible webs 11 to collapse. However, upon the backward or drivingstroke of the device, the shutters 6 will all close, and the wings 8swing outwardly into operative position so as to ofier a maximumresistance and draw the webs 11 into a taut condition.

The resistanceoffered by the return or driv- I claim as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent, is

l. A marine propelling device including an open frame, swinging shuttersextending across the frame so as to close the same when swung toward theframe and open the same when swung away from the frame, wings hinged tothe sides of theframe, and

stop means for causing the wings to project outwardly from the framewhen the shutters are closed.

2. A marine propelling device "including an open frame constructed to bereciprocated back and forth in a direction at right angles to its face,swinging shutters extending across the frame and arranged to swingagainst the frame and close the samewhen the frame is reciprocated inone direction and to swing away from the frame to open the same when theframe is reciprocated in the opposite direction, wings hinged to thesides of the frame so as to swing outwardly when the frame isreciprocated to close the shutters, said wings being formed with endextensions, and a web connecting the end extensions so as to be drawntaut when the wings swing outwardly into operative position.

3. A marine propelling device including an open frame constructed to bereciprocated back and forth in a direction at right angles to its face,swinging shutters extending across the frame so as to swing toward theframe and close the same when the frame is moved in one direction andswing away from the frame to open the same when the frame is moved inthe opposite direction, wings hinged to the sides of the frame so as toswing outwardly into operative position when the frame is moved to closethe shutters, said wings being formed with end extensions which have theinner sides thereof out off at an angle, webs connecting the saidangular edges of the extensions and secured to the ends of the mainframe so as to be drawn taut when the wings are swung outwardly intooperative position and collapsed when the wings swing rearwardly intoinoperative position.

4. A marine propelling device including a cellular frame having thecells arranged in parallel rows and adapted to be reciprocated back andforth throughthe water in a clirection at right angles to the face ofthe frame, hinged shutters mounted upon the frame so as to alternatelyswing over the re spective rowsof cells to close the same and swingoutwardly away from the main frame as the main frame 1s reclprocatedback and forth, and wings hinged to the sides of the frame so as toswing outwardly into operaac tive position when the shutters are closedand swing rearwardly into inoperative posi tion when the shutters areopen.

5. A marine propelling device including an open frame arranged to bereciprocated 35 back and forth in a direction at right angles to itsface, swinging shutters extending across the frame and arranged to swingalternately toward and away from the frame to close and open the same asthe frame is 40 reciprocated back and forth, a stop plate applied toeach of the shutters, said stop plates being formed with shoulders andalso with clips to engage the ends of the shutters, and stop pins uponthe main frame for 00- 45 operation with the shoulders to limit theswinging movement of the shutters.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

MATTIE A. TRACY, Adminstmtm'm 0f the estate of the late T.

-H. Tracy. vVitnesses:

C. T. BLooDwoR'rH, J OSEPH NIMNIOH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patent-s,

' Washington, D. G.

